Information for the TU Community:

Argentina - H1N1 Influenza update
July 02, 2009

The US State Department has posted the following announcement for US citizens traveling to Argentina (http://argentina.usembassy.gov/warden_messages/h1n1-influenza-swine-flu-update-july-2-2009.html).  The Center for Global Education is advising any students traveling in South America to closely monitor reports provided by the US Department of State regarding the spread of the H1N1 influenza.  (http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html).

This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Argentina that the country's health ministry reported more than 1,500 confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza, including 26 deaths, as of June 26, its last release of statistics.  Media reports place the number of deaths at 44 as of July 1, 2009, with higher numbers of confirmed cases as well.  Seventeen of Argentina's 24 districts have extended school vacations, some to as long as a month.  Two of Argentina’s largest districts, the Province of Buenos Aires and the city of Buenos Aires, have declared administrative health emergencies and are recommending avoiding large congregations of people. Other measures instituted to control the spread of H1N1 include a requirement that travelers entering Argentina complete health cards with local contact information, don provided surgical masks when disembarking their flights, and pass in front of sensors that track body temperature in transportation terminals.  Some flights also may be disinfected with spray prior to landing.

The U.S. Embassy will continue to monitor this situation and will issue updated messages as necessary.  Citizens -- especially persons at higher risk for flu complications -- are encouraged to consult the Department of State information on H1N1 Flu at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4493.html, the United States Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ or the World Health Organization website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html for information on how to avoid contracting the virus and how to treat it if infected.  More information on H1N1 flu in Argentina may be obtained from the Argentine Ministry of Health website at http://www.msal.gov.ar/htm/site/default.asp. 

U.S. citizens may also call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the U.S. for the latest travel information.  The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, M-F, at 1-888-407-4747, or if calling from outside the U.S., at (202)-501-4444.  For any emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section, located at 4300 Avenida Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires; telephone+54-11-5777-4354; after hours emergency telephone +54-11-5777-4873; ACS unit fax +54-11-5777-4293; e-mail BuenosAires-ACS@state.gov; web page http://argentina.usembassy.gov.

Americans living or traveling in Argentina are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui  so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Argentina.  Americans without internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

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Mexico- H1N1 Influenza Travel Alert No Longer in Effect
May 15, 2009
The Department of State has informed U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Mexico that on May 15 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted its recommendation that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico.  As a result of the CDC's decision, the State Department's Travel Alert relating to the 2009-H1N1 influenza outbreak is no longer in effect. 
The CDC continues to suggest precautions that travelers and U.S. citizens resident in Mexico (especially those at high risk for complications of influenza) should take to reduce their risk of infection while in Mexico; provides recommendations for those who must travel to an area where cases of 2009-H1N1 influenza have been reported; and recommends measures travelers should take following their return from an area that has reported cases of 2009-H1N1 influenza.  Complete CDC guidelines regarding H1N1 influenza can be found at the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/.  Please check this site frequently for updates. Americans departing Mexico for non-U.S. destinations should be aware that some governments have imposed quarantine or other screening procedures for all travelers from Mexico.  Travelers may wish to check the website of the foreign country's Embassy in the United States or Mexico for available information on current screening or quarantine procedures for travelers from Mexico.  Information about entry screening procedures in other countries can be found at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/content/news-announcements/delays-H1N1-screening.aspx
The Government of Mexico restarted high school (grades 10-12) and university classes on Thursday, May 7.  Federal health and education officials announced that all schools from pre-school to secondary would reopen as of Monday, 11 May.  However, Chiapas, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, San Luis Potosí, and Zacatecas states extended at least some school closures until Monday, May 18 due to increases in suspected or confirmed cases of influenza 2009-H1N1, and fatalities in Jalisco and Michoacán. 
For more information, please check the website for the US State Department: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html

Thursday, May16th, 2009, 5pm.

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This is an update about the current situation with regards to the H1N1 virus, the so-called swine flu.  As of May 6, 22 countries have officially reported 1516 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection. You may be aware that the Mexican government has lowered the health alert in Mexico and permitted universities, schools and public gathering spaces to reopen, beginning tomorrow, May 7. While the Mexican government has announced that the aggressive measures to control the spread of the flu have been effective and that the disease does appear to be milder than first thought, Mexican health officials have reiterated that citizens should continue to be vigilant in taking steps to prevent the spread of flu. 

Please note that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Travel Alert for US citizens planning trips to Mexico remains in effect.   The CDC alert, issued April 27,  recommended that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico at this time.  Additionally, the Tulsa World reported today that the first case of swine flu has been identified in Oklahoma.

Students who are planning to study abroad, especially with summer programs, are strongly encouraged to closely monitor travel information for their host country.  The CGE continues to recommend the following:

1. Regularly monitor the CDC website for new information about the swine flu outbreak and recommended precautions for travelers (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/)
2. Follow US news sources and the local news sources for your study abroad destination for information specific to your travel plans.  Please be aware that many countries are putting in place additional health screenings for travelers arriving on flights from the US and Mexico.  This additional health monitoring may impact or delay your travel plans.
3. Stay in touch with your host institution and study abroad program providers for local information about the swine flu developments.
4. Students who have not yet purchased their airline tickets may consider purchasing “trip interruption insurance,” available from most major airline carriers.  Such insurance may cover changes to your airline ticket, including refunding the cost of the ticket, should conditions develop such that you must change your travel plans.
5. Students who are currently abroad should continue to monitor news sources about travel to the US in order to be aware of any changes to air travel that might affect plans.
6. Make sure that you have provided the CGE your flight information so that we may notify you if we learn of additional information that may impact your travel arrangements. ( Please log into your CGE study abroad account and click on the tab for flight/incountry.)

As of this morning, May 6, the CDC website provided the following information about the spread of the infection.  Mexico has reported 822 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 29 deaths. The United States has reported 403 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (165), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (9), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (5), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (2), Spain (57), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (27).

The CDC considers it prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

May 6, 2009 - 1pm

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As of Monday, April 27, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico" (see http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluMexico.aspx for additional information). Additionally, University of Tulsa President Steadman Upham issued a statement that the university has activated its Pandemic Influenza Plan:
http://www.utulsa.edu/about-TU/news-events-publications/UniversityNews/2
009/April/Message-Regarding-Swine-Flu.aspx.

Students who are currently abroad or preparing to go abroad should continue to monitor news sources from the US and their host countries to be aware of any recommendations regarding international travel.  The Center for Global Education will continue to monitor information and provide students with regular updates.

April 28, 2009 - 8am

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As has been reported widely in the news, there are reported human cases of swine influenza in Mexico, the US, and Canada.  As of Monday, April 27, 73 cases of swine flu have been confirmed worldwide.  Forty of those cases are in the US, 26 in Mexico, six in Canada, and one in Spain.   Mexican health authorities report that more than 1,700 cases and 103 deaths have been reported but not yet confirmed. The US Department of Homeland Security declared a public health emergency in response to the flu outbreak, which recommends precautionary steps to prevent and mitigate spread of the disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has not issued a travel warning about the current swine influenza outbreak.  WHO has indicated that there is no evidence at this stage that there is no evidence at this stage that the level of pandemic alert should be increased.  Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs cased by type A influenza.  Swine flu does not normally infect humans.  However, human infections do occur, usually after exposure to pigs.  Symptoms resemble those of regular flu, including sore throat, coughing and fever.  The WHO statement on the outbreak is available at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html.  The WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the outbreak involves “an animal strain of the H1N1 virus, and it has pandemic potential.”  But, she added, it was too early to say whether a pandemic would occur.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not recommended that people avoid travel to Mexico at this time.  If planning travel to Mexico, CDC has recommendations to reduce the risk of infection and to stay healthy.  The CDC travel health precaution can be found here:http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluMexico.aspx.
More information about swine flu is available at www.cdc.gov/swineflu
Information about Human Swine Influenza Investigation is available at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm

At this point, the University of Tulsa has not advised that students participating in study abroad, either as part of a spring semester program or during the Summer or Fall 2009 terms, make any changes to their travel plans.  However, students are advised as to the following:

1. Regularly monitor the CDC website for new information about the swine flu outbreak and recommended precautions for travelers.
2. Follow US news sources and the local news sources for your study abroad destination for information specific to your travel plans.  Please be aware that some countries that are not currently affected by the swine flu outbreak, such as South Korea, New Zealand, and Japan, have still put in place additional health monitoring that may affect your travel plans.
3. Stay in touch with your host institution and study abroad program providers for local information about the swine flu developments.
4. Students who have not yet purchased their airline tickets may consider purchasing “trip interruption insurance,” available from most major airline carriers.  Such insurance may cover changes to your airline ticket, including refunding the cost of the ticket, should conditions develop such that you must change your travel plans.
5. Students who are currently abroad should continue to monitor news sources about travel to the US in order to be aware of any changes to air travel that might affect plans.

Finally, the Center for Global Education will continue to monitor developments and share information with students and the university community about changes that affect plans for foreign study.  With this in mind, we stress the importance for students to maintain regular communication with the CGE staff, ensure that their US and international contact information is current and accurate, and regularly monitor the utulsa.edu email addresses for information.

April 27, 2009 - 11am